Bacteriophage Application Restores Ethanol Fermentation Characteristics Disrupted by Lactobacillus fermentum
September 16, 2015http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/content/8/1/132
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Contamination of corn mash by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) reduces the efficiency of ethanol fermentation. The industry relies on antibiotics to control it but an alternative method is also needed.
Researchers led by Mei Liu of Ecolyse Incorporated studied the bacteria contaminating ethanol fermentations, and tested the potential of bacteriophages in controlling LAB. Bacterial samples in corn mash from commercial plants were determined. Several genus of LAB were found but Lactobacillus was the most prevalent genus at all fermentation stages in all plants.
Two bacteriophages that target Lactobacillus species namely, vB_LfeS_EcoSau and vB_LfeM_EcoInf (EcoSau and EcoInf), were then isolated and tested against a L. fermentum. Addition of the phages to the contaminated corn mash restored ethanol fermentation and reduced the levels of residual glucose, lactic acid, and acetic acid to levels comparable to infection-free samples.
This study suggests that phages which target a range of LAB species can be applied directly to corn mash for antibiotic-free control of contamination.
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